{When the messengers of John were departed} (apelthont(936e)
t(936e) aggel(936e) I(9361)nou). Genitive absolute of aorist active
participle.  Mt 11:7  has the present middle participle
poreuomen(936e), suggesting that Jesus began his eulogy of John as
soon as the messengers (angels, Luke calls them) were on their
way. The vivid questions about the people's interest in John are
precisely alike in both Matthew and Luke.